Underwood, John Curtiss

Born March 14, 1809, in Litchfield, NY
Died December 7, 1873, in Washington, DC

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Received a recess appointment from Abraham Lincoln on March 27, 1863, to a seat vacated by James D. Halyburton; nominated to the same position by Abraham Lincoln on January 5, 1864. Confirmed by the Senate on January 25, 1864, and received commission on January 25, 1864. Service terminated on June 11, 1864, due to reassignment.

Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Virginia
Reassigned on June 11, 1864, to a new seat authorized by 13 Stat. 124. Service terminated on February 3, 1871, due to reassignment.

Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Reassigned on February 3, 1871, to a new seat authorized by 16 Stat. 403. Service terminated on December 7, 1873, due to death.

Education:
Read law
Hamilton College, 1832

Professional Career:

Private practice, Herkimer County, New York, -ca. 1839
Private practice, ca. 1839-1856
Secretary, Emigrant Aid and Homestead Society, 1856-1861
Fifth auditor, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1861-1863
U.S. senator-elect from Virginia (not seated), 1865

Bibliography

Hickin, Patricia. "John C. Underwood and the Anti-Slavery Movement in Virginia, 1847-1860." Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 73 (1965): 156-68.

Hornick, Nancy Slocum. "The Last Appeal: Lydia Child's Antislavery Letters to John Underwood." Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 79 (1971): 45-54.

Manuscript Collections

Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
John C. Underwood papers, 1856-1898.
2 containers (165 items); correspondence concerning the Republican Party, 1861-1877, and various legal and judicial matters.

Huntington Library
San Marino, Calif.
Papers of John C. Underwood, 1865-1870.
1 box (62 items); finding aid. Miscellaneous professional and political correspondence of Judge Underwood. Included are his legal opinions and correspondence with legislators, clerks, lawyers, Republican politicians, etc. discussing legal matters and political situation, particularly Virginia Constitutional Convention (1867-1868). Also included is miscellaneous correspondence of William H. Barry who clerked for Judge Underwood and later served in as a clerk in U.S. Circuit Court. Forms part of the collection of Robert Alonzo Brock.

Federal Judicial Center

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Underwood, John Curtiss